UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

I been using toric lenses for my KC for the past 8 months or so and been getting on with them well. My KC is more advanced in my right eye so toric lenses only really seem to make a big difference for me in my left eye as its not too bad. Had a eye examination at the opticians few weeks back and she said my KC was the same and hadnt progressed. However these last few days I just cant seem to get as good vision as I normally get with them. It happend after one day too as I was getting totally fine vision with them up till Wednesday. My eyes were feeling slightlly tired and reddish on that day though and contacts were a little uncomfatable at times. But the next day Thursday could notice it definately is different now and seems worse. I thought I might just be having a bad eye day so I'd get some rest and wake up but today (friday) its still the same. Signs are more blurry such as the fire exit sign at work! (which I use to judge how good my vision is each day). if I press down on my left eye with my finger I can see a lot better which wasn't happening before either. My left eye is my good KC eye too as the astigmatism isnt as bad as it is in my right one (which toric lenses dont make much difference too, if any).
Last few weeks I have also been using my glasses on top of my contacts which made my vision even better for some reason. However, I did this again yesterday since I noticed the change in vision and my glasses actually make my eyesight even worse whilst still wearin my contacts! My glasses still give me the same vision if I dont have my contacts in as before, so I'm woindering if it could just be the toric lenses and I need to replace them? the left contact lens might just be damaged or stretched? I looked at it and seemed fine and was wearing it properly (they are monthly and have only been using this pair for 2 weeks). Surely my KC cant have advanced overnight this fast? And if it had my I would notice a visual drop in my glasses too? but they give the same vision as before if I just wear them without contacts.

Joe

It may be that you have encountered a deterioration of your KC over than past couple of days.

I'd get in touch with the clinic to have both lenses and eyes checked out.

All the best

Andrew

This is very frustrating as the opticians I use is a private sector chain optician in Wolverhampton that only ever has their contact lens specialists in two days of the whole week, and for this reason she is usually fully booked and difficult to get an appointment with! I've had enough. The only thing thats been keeping me staying with my present optician was the direct debit payments I have for them and discounts etc but if theres noone even available most of the time then whats the point of staying? Ridiculous.
Am now looking to change to a different one as the level of service is rubbish. Even the staff aren't very friendly. Any recommendations? I'm in Wolverhampton and was thinking of a smaller Optician or another chain instead? Have made an appointment with the smaller optician for tomorrow.



** Text edited by Andrew MacLean to remove references to named opticians **
June 6. 13.25 hrs

Do you have a hospital contact lens clinic nearby where you stay? if you do it might be worth while asking your ophthalmologist for a referral.

Or, maybe your hospital contracts contact lens work out to someone in the private sector. Again your ophthalmologist would be in a position to advise you.

As I understand it, people with Keratoconus are entitled to support for contact lenses, so that you should be paying no more than about £50 per lens. Certainly that is the case in Scotland, and I think that this may be one of the cases where Scotland is the same as England and Wales.

I know how frustrating this must be.

Andrew

I was discharged from the hospital where my opto was over a year ago. I could just arrange another appointment with them by contacting them?

I'd certainly give that a try.

All the best

Andrew